Some events happen differently from the book while others remain the same. More from Selena! Enjoy!
Nari tended to the food that evening, waiting for Brom to return from his search for water. The rabbit she'd caught was roasting on the spit when she felt Brom's probe at her mind. She opened her mind to him and immediately felt her shoulders tighten at the flood of emotions. Saphira snarled, whole body tensed.
Pack our supplies. Hurry! I'm on my way back.
Brom had only spoken to her this way once before, and she knew the effort it required for him to do so. Immediately, she gathered their supplies, stomping out the fire and saddled their horses. Saphira stood guard, eyes intent on the trees that Brom had disappeared into.
"Brom!" Nari alerted as soon as she spotted him. Saphira, about the lunge with her teeth bared, halted in her tracks.
"Let's go." He ordered, mounting Snowfire as Nari mounted Dusk.
"What happened?" Nari demanded.
"I found Urgal tracks; they're fresh." He responded curtly. Then he turned to Saphira. "It's almost dark; you might as well fly right overhead. If Urgals show up, I imagine they'll think twice about attacking us with you nearby."
If they do not, they won't think again, Saphira snarled as she took flight.
The sun was quickly disappearing, and the horses were exhausted from the day's ride, but they could not afford to stop.
Brom called them to a halt only a mile from the camp as they heard a hunting horn sound from behind them.
"They must have found where we were," Brom told her grimly, "and probably Saphira's tracks. They will chase us now. It's not in their nature to let prey escape."
Two more horns sounded, seeming to agree with his words, and Nari felt herself tremble. "Our only chance is to run," he said. He raised his head to the sky, and his face blanked as he called Saphira.
She rushed out of the night sky and landed next to them. "Leave Dusk. Go with her; you'll be safer," commanded Brom. Nari shook her head.
"I won't leave you," she told him firmly.
"I'll be fine. Now go!" Brom urged.
"No!" Nari told him fiercely, remembering the tiredness in his eyes when he'd spoken with Joed about the future.
Brom swore and spurred Snowfire into a gallop. Nari followed swiftly.
Are you sure this is wise? Saphira asked her privately.
I will not abandon him to save myself. We are stronger together than we ever could be apart. Nari told her fiercely. She felt Saphira's agreement and her anguish at the thought of Nari's death. Nari sent her own feelings of anguish and unending love back through their bond. We will have many years more, sister of my soul, Nari swore.
Horns blared, closer than they had been, and Nari and Brom ceased trying to be quiet. They crashed through the underbrush, forcing the horses to their limits. The horns trumpeted in unison close behind them, then were quiet. Several minutes passed before another horn sounded, this time in the distance. They slowed, but Nari barely had time to toss Brom a relieved glance before a horn blasted directly behind them.
Nari! Saphira alerted, sending an image through their bond. Horned Urgals, shouting with coarse voices, barreled along the trail on horses, swiftly gaining ground.
"Twelve Urgals," She panted to Brom. "They're just behind us," she told him, alarmed.
"Let's get to the next clearing," Brom told her, face grim.
Find one for us, Saphira, Nari requested.
There, Saphira told her, sending her the image. Nari nodded and passed on the information to Brom.
"Be ready," he told her. Nari nodded. When they reached the clearing, they dismounted and drew their swords quickly. Nari reached for the magic that came to her more swiftly every day. Saphira landed beside them, in front of the horses, sending a spray of dirt and rocks.
The Urgal entered the clearing at a gallop, weapons bared, but yanked on their horses' reins when they caught sight of them. The animals went stiff-legged and collided into each other, and Nari quickly took advantage of the momentary confusion.
"Stenr reisa! Thrysta!" Stones rose from the earth and zoomed towards the Urgals like they were shot from a sling. Three hit their targets in the Urgals' eyes. Others zoomed past or left small trails of blood where they'd scraped skin. The nine remaining Urgals snarled, hate on their faces, but did not charge.
To her shock, the largest Urgal looked directly at her and spat, "Our master wishes to speak with you, human!" The monster spoke in deep, rolling gutturals, but he spoke the human tongue.
"Who is your master?" Nari demanded. Brom hissed at her side but said nothing.
The Urgal sneered. "His name does not deserve to be given to one as low as yourself. He rules the sky and holds dominance over the earth. You are no more than a stray ant to him. Yet he has decreed that you shall be brought before him, alive. Take heart that you have become worthy of such notice!"
"Jierda!" Brom snarled. The lead Urgal's neck snapped with an audible crack as he fell from the saddle. The other Urgals charged and Nari lifted Za'ric. Between Saphira, Brom and Nari herself, they were able to kill six of the remaining eight Urgals. The other two bolted on their horses when they saw Saphira rip one Urgal in two as it tried to take advantage of Nari's preoccupation with another. Brom swore and mounted Snowfire, while Nari hesitated.
"Brom?" She called worriedly as he rushed after them. His face was pale, but he did not hesitate. Rather than attempting to ride Dusk, Nari climbed atop Saphira and urged her forward.
Her searching eyes found Brom on the tail of two Urgals and she quickly searched ahead.
Land there, Nari told Saphira. Saphira growled her agreement and they landed in front of the remaining two. One wheeled around, heading back towards Brom, while the other snarled and drew his sword.
"Garjzla!" Bright light flared from her palm, sending the Urgal reeling, and Saphira quickly took advantage, lunging forward. Nari grabbed Za'roc and bolted from her back to go to Brom's aid.
She found him, his chest and beard stained with splattered blood, heading towards her. The relief that covered his face at the sight of her nearly sent her to her knees, but when he reached her, he grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her fiercely.
"Next time, you will do as I tell you!" He roared. "If I tell you to ride your blasted dragon, you'll do so without arguing, girl!"
"I won't just abandon you!" Nari yelled, tears pricking at her eyes for a different reason altogether. "How could you ask me to? How could I leave you, knowing it might get you killed? They caught up to us, and they would have caught up with you, and you would have been alone! You could have died!"
"YOU could have died!" Brom snarled. "Your life, and Saphira's life, is infinitely more important than mine! You will do as I say!" Without waiting for another response, Brom stormed away, back towards Snowfire, and headed back towards where they'd left Dusk. Nari, stared after him, stunned.
Nari, Saphira soothed.
I suppose you agree with him, Nari demanded, feeling the tears fall as Brom rode out of sight without a glance back.
No, Saphira said, causing Nari to turn to her in surprise. You would not be you if you left someone you cared for to face danger alone.
You mean like I did Garrow? Nari asked bitterly
That was not your fault, Saphira told her sternly. The old one certainly knows you better than to think so.
Then why did he say those things? Nari demanded of her. How could he expect me to leave him behind like that unless he truly thinks I would do something like that?
You will have to speak to the old one, but he smelled of fear.
Fear, Nari pondered, climbing onto Saphira again. Fear, Nari pondered, as Saphira soared up into the sky. Fear, Nari pondered, as she wiped the fallen tears away as they descended into the clearing Brom had brought their horses to, several miles from the place where they'd fought the Urgals.
As Nari climbed down from Saphira, she met Brom's gaze. His face bore the remnants of anger, but his eyes spoke of relief. Their bedrolls were already laid out, the cold rabbit portioned out and the horses cared for. There was no work left for Nari to do, except to eat and rest. She ducked her head and sat on her bedroll to eat her rabbit in silence. When she was finished, she lay with her back to Brom. Saphira settled down in front of her.
"I'm sorry I frightened you," Nari said without turning over, "but I will never sacrifice your life for mine, no matter what that means for the Varden, or the Empire."
Brom said nothing, but Saphira's eyes let Nari see the look on his face. It was enough.
The next morning, neither of them said a word as they readied the horses and departed.
The next three days remained mostly silent as well; their training halted. Nari felt despair well up in her, wondering if her choice had caused her to lose his friendship forever. On the fourth day, she climbed onto Saphira and dug desperately through her mother's books. Her mother's journal, Nari left alone. Instead, Nari reached for the others that she hadn't looked at. There were four, altogether. The first was a book of stories, Nari discovered, ones that might interest a child. Some, she recognized as ones that her Aunt Marian would tell her and Roran when they were small. Nari set it aside with the journal. The second was a book of plants and their varied uses. The original book contained no pictures, but here and there Nari spotted several plants drawn in, her mother's work. The third was written in the ancient language. Nari tried to read it, but she knew only one word of every three and set it back in the bag out of frustration. She gasped as she opened the fourth, and smallest. It was hand-written, like her mother's journal, and Nari eagerly began to read.
7982 A.C.
My son was born a week ago today.
Nari felt herself freeze, staring at the words.
A son, Saphira, Nari whispered through their bond. I have a brother. Or had. He would have been two years older than me. Saphira sent soothing feelings through the link at Nari's sudden despair. Why else would her mother not bring her brother with her to Carvahall, unless he was dead? Nari dove back into the book, searching for every scrap of information she could find.
I did not even get to hold him in my arms before Morzan took him from me. There is very little, I'm told, that can change a person's True Name, but I've found that the love a mother feels for her child is one of them, for I haven't felt so free since Carvahall. No longer is my heart blinded by love, nor are my thoughts and actions restrained by Morzan's orders. Even writing these words sends a thrill up my spine. These are dangerous words, but Morzan has taught me well. The ancient language will not allow anyone not of my blood to open this book. For now, until my son is older, that will be protection enough. It feels strange, in truth. I haven't kept a journal since the one I left behind in Carvahall. It is wonderful to write my thoughts down without fear that Morzan will read them, as he has bound me to keep no secrets from him, to be absolutely loyal. For the first time in three years, I am free.
Here I am speaking of freedom, and yet I will never truly be free of him now. Not so long as my son lies in his grasp. I wonder if he has my hair or Garrow's chin. I wonder if he has my mother's eyes or my father's broad shoulders. I can only hope that he has inherited little of Morzan.
Oh, how I wish the foul man had let me hold my son!
I have not seen him once in the week that has passed, and my breasts ache with urge to feed him.
The page ended there, and Nari sat back, wondering if she dared to turn the page. This knowledge felt poisonous; already, she had a bad taste in her mouth.
He bound her to him in the ancient language. She felt numb. He took the son she bore him against her will. How long did it take him to kill that babe?
Perhaps you should stop for now, my heart. Saphira urged gently. As much as I understand your need to know, this knowledge only upsets you at a time when you are already greatly upset. Perhaps it might wait until after Dras-Leona.
Perhaps you are right, Nari agreed. Carefully, she closed the book and tucked it back into the bag.
That night, her mood fell further as Brom continued to remain silent, making no move to initiate a sparring session. Nari rose and moved away from their camp, hands shaking. She collapsed at the bank of a stream, tears falling freely. Brom's silence, her mother's captivity, a brother she had never known of, and whose fate she could not bare to imagine, it all weighed on her.
She turned her gaze to the water, spying a stranger looking back at her. Her face was lean and sharp, all baby fat melted away. Her brown eyes were red from tears. Her chest was larger, and her body slender. She had gained a little height, but she doubted anyone would consider her tall.
Do I look like her? Do I have her hair or chin or eyes? Brom said he saw her in me, but he spoke only of how she was instead of what she looked like. Do I look like him? Does Brom know who sired me? He killed Morzan, but does he see him staring back at him every time I look him in the eyes? Is my hair the same as his? Is that why he was unhappy when I cut my hair as short as a man's? Did I look like Morzan then? The thought chilled her, but there were no answers in her reflection. There was only one person of her family left that might be alive, and he knew even less than she did. Shame filled her at the thought of Roran, and she reached instantly for the magic flowing through her and spoke the words for scrying. The water below her froze, going completely flat. Roran appeared, sitting on an invisible chair, at an invisible table. To her surprise, Albreich and Baldor sat across from him, both faces grim and unsmiling as she had never seen them before. Roran had his head in his hands. When he looked up, she gasped at the pain that covered his face and lost her hold on the magic. At least he's alive, she thought, though her heart ached knowing he was in pain.
More tears fell at what she'd left him to deal with. Garrow's funeral, the farm. He'd probably lost his chance to marry Katrina as well, with Garrow's death pulling him back to Carvahall. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. She hadn't even checked on him before now, though she'd thought of him often. Forgive me,she wanted to beg, feeling more tears fall, but Roran could not hear her and Brom would not.
"Nari," a familiar voice rumbled from behind her. She turned only halfway, trying to wipe the evidence from her face.
"Yes?" She said stiffly, trying to keep the tears from her voice. Brom said nothing, but she heard the crunch of his footsteps as he neared her. She rose, abandoning her hopeless task in favor of turning to meet his eyes fiercely.
She barely had time to catch his gaze before his arms were around her, her face pressed against his shoulder.
"It is not only for the Varden or the Empire that I fear your death, dear one." Brom said, so quiet she almost didn't hear him despite how close his mouth was to her ear. She clutched him close, refusing to let go.
"I don't want to lose you either," she told him, voice muffled by tears and his shoulder. His arms tightened around her for a brief moment before releasing her.
"Come," he said, voice gruff as he turned away. "You've been neglecting your lessons." She smiled and followed him back towards camp.
Their days fell back into routine again, and if Nari flew with Saphira every third day instead of every other, no one mentioned it or protested the change.
By the time they crossed the Spine and came to the plains again, spring had crept over Alagaësia, summoning a multitude of flowers. The bare deciduous trees were russet with buds, while new blades of grass began to push up between last year's dead stalks. Birds returned from their winter absence to mate and build nests.
The travelers followed the Toark River southeast, along the edge of the Spine. It grew steadily as tributaries flowed into it from every side, feeding its bulging girth.
When the river was over a league wide, Brom pointed at the silt islands that dotted the water. "We're close to Leona Lake now," he said. "It's only about two leagues away."
"Do you think we can get there before nightfall?" Brom sent her a challenging grin at the question.
"We can certainly try," he laughed.
They didn't quite make it before dark, but the race lifted both of their spirits. Dusk made the trail harder to follow, but the sound of the river at their side guided them. When the moon rose, the bright disk provided enough light to see what lay ahead.
Leona Lake looked like a thin sheet of silver beaten over the land. The water was so calm and smooth it did not even seem to be liquid. Aside from a bright strip of moonlight reflecting off the surface, it was indistinguishable from the ground. Saphira was on the rocky shore, fanning her wings to dry them.
How is the water?Nari asked, amused.
Lovely! It is deep and cool, and clear. Nari laughed.
I'm glad you enjoyed it.
They set up camp under a stand of trees and were soon asleep. The next morning, Nari rose to the sound of Brom's snarl. She opened her eyes and immediately began to laugh, feeling Saphira's smug satisfaction at her amusement. Brom was soaking wet, dripping with water.
What did you do?Nari asked. Saphira sent her an image of a white-capped expanse of water that rippled with fan-shaped patterns where wind brushed it, Saphira soaring over top of it. As she watched, memory-Saphira swooped down and grabbed a mouthful of water before soaring back towards their camp. Nari couldn't help but laugh harder.
"You think this is funny, do you?" Brom growled. Nari nodded, unable to speak. The next thing she knew, Brom was scooping her up off the ground and carrying her away. She felt the water seep through his clothes and into hers and squirmed from the cold.
"Brom, what…?" She began. Then she spotted the lake coming closer and felt Saphira's amusement. "Wait, no…!" Nari began, but it was too late. With a heave, Nari felt herself lift and then drop. The water hit her like an icy wall, knocking her breath from her lungs. Fortunately, she was in the shallows and quickly rose from the water, gasping for breath.
"Brom!" She cried indignantly, her limbs shaking as she struggled from the water. He laughed as she shook her head, spraying him with water.
"What a way to wake up, eh?" Brom teased. She laughed with him as they headed back to the camp to eat.
Once she and Brom were dry, they saddled the horses and started around Leona Lake in high spirits while Saphira playfully dived in and out of the water.
For days they continued south along Leona Lake's vast shore. The trail had turned into a road, and an increase in travelers forced Saphira to hide during the day and then catch up with them at night. Nari felt the loss of her strongly, and she knew Brom sensed it. Her lessons became more demanding, their sparring more intense, as he tried to distract her.
Finally, they met travelers who told them that they would reach Dras-Leona the next day.
Before Dawn the next morning, Nari leaned against Saphira quietly, contemplating the end of their quest.
The two of you must be careful,Saphira cautioned. The Ra'zac could have spies watching for travelers that fit your description.
They could, Nari agreed. We'll do our best to stay hidden.
I worry, Saphira confesses. I won't be able to fight alongside you as I did when we fought the Urgals. I will be too far away, and I would not fight well in your narrow streets even if I could reach you. You said it well; we do best when we're together.
I worry also, Nari confessed. But we must gather as much knowledge about the situation as we can. We cannot do that from here.She felt Saphira's discontent at her words. I will be with Brom. He will not let any harm come to me.
I know,Saphira agreed. Will we go to the Varden after this is done?
Perhaps. It might be best. Galbatorix is sure to search more intently for us once the Ra'zac are dead. I suppose it depends on whether or not Brom believes we are ready to face them.
We must be ready, Saphira said, soaring up into the air. Nari watched her go, thinking.
They entered Dras-Leona that day behind a great number of wagons. Farmers were bringing their goods to the market, and it took hours to get a view of the city itself. Unlike Teirm, a planned city, Dras-Leona was a tangled mess that sprawled next to Leona Lake. Ramshackle buildings sat on crooked streets, and the heart of the city was surrounded by a dirty, pale yellow wall of daubed mud.
Several miles east, a mountain of bare rock speared the sky with spires and columns, a tenebrous nightmare ship. Near-vertical sides rose out of the ground like a jagged piece of the earth's bone.
Brom pointed. "That's Helgrind. It's the reason Dras-Leona was originally built. People are fascinated by it, even though it's an unhealthy and malevolent thing." He gestured at the buildings inside the city's wall. "We should go to the center of the city first."
As they crept along the road to Dras-Leona, Nari saw that the highest building within the city was a cathedral that loomed behind the walls. It was strikingly similar to Helgrind, especially when its arches and flanged spires caught the light. "Who do they worship?" she asked quietly.
Brom grimaced. "Their prayers go to Helgrind. It's a cruel religion they practice. They drink human blood and make flesh offerings. Their priests often lack body parts because they believe that the more bone and sinew you give up, the less you're attached to the mortal world. They spend much of their time arguing about which of Helgrind's three peaks is the highest and most important and whether the fourth—and lowest—should be included in their worship." Nari hissed.
"That's awful," she declared. "Is it only their own flesh they sacrifice?"
"No, and don't say that to a believer. You'll quickly lose a hand in 'penance.' They sacrifice slaves as well as anyone foolish enough to insult them."
At Dras-Leona's enormous gates, they led the horses through the crush of people. Ten soldiers were stationed on either side of the gates, casually scanning the crowd, but Nari kept her head bowed and they passed without notice.
The houses inside the city wall were tall and thin to compensate for the lack of space. Those next to the wall were braced against it. Most of the houses hung over the narrow, winding streets, covering the sky so that it was hard to tell if it was night or day. Nearly all the buildings were constructed of the same rough brown wood, which darkened the city even more. The air reeked like a sewer; the streets were filthy. Nari nearly gagged as she walked. A group of ragged children ran between the houses, fighting over scraps of bread. Deformed beggars crouched next to the entrance gates, pleading for money. Their cries for help were like a chorus of the damned.
"How can they treat people like this?" Nari whispered. "We don't even treat animals this badly!"
"It gets better farther in," said Brom. "Right now we need to find an inn and form a strategy. Dras-Leona can be a dangerous place to even the most cautious. I don't want to remain on the streets any longer than necessary."
Nari thought about rebelling, about insisting they camp outside the walls, but kept silent.
They forged deeper into Dras-Leona, leaving the squalid entrance behind. As they entered wealthier parts of the city, Nari eyed the people around her with disdain. These people are worse than Sloan! How can they live like this when there are people fighting over scraps of food two streets over!
They found lodging at the Golden Globe, which was cheap but not decrepit. The innkeeper seemed to find nothing wrong with renting a room to a grown man and a barely developed girl. Nari could only hope the innkeeper thought Brom was her father, but she doubted that was the case.
There was a single, narrow bed crammed against one wall of the room, with a rickety table and a basin alongside it.
"Put your sleeping bag on top of the blankets and sleep on that," Brom suggested, laying his own on the floor between the bed and the door. Nari grimaced at the raggedy mattress but nodded, setting her things down.
"What now?" She asked as she laid her sleeping bag down.
"We find food. After that, sleep. Tomorrow we can start looking for information about the Ra'zac." Before they left the room, Brom warned, "No matter what happens, make sure that your tongue doesn't loosen. We'll have to leave immediately if we're given away."
"I understand," she told him.
The inn's food was barely adequate, but they ate their fill all the same. Brom started to drink the inn's beer, which he declared excellent, but stopped when he noticed some of the men eyeing her. Nari was relieved when they could escape back to their room.
Saphira? She tried, feeling the weakness of their bond.
My heart?
We may stay for a few days, but this shouldn't take as long as Teirm. We'll start our search tomorrow. It shouldn't take too long to find someone who knows something. Once we find them, you might be able to help us get them.
I await our fight for vengeance for your father-who-is-your-uncle with eagerness, my heart. Nari smiled at Saphira's title for Garrow, and let her eyes drift closed.
The next morning, Nari rose with the sun, despite the dark curtains on the window. Brom snored from his place on the floor. Hearing her movements, Brom shifted, still snoring.
"It's only me, Brom," she murmured, watching as the tension in his shoulders eased a bit.
Nari walked to the basin and splashed a little water on her face, then rubbed it onto her neck and arms. Grabbing her bag, she quickly changed her clothing.
Not long after, Brom rolled out of bed with a grumble. He stumbled blearily to the basin and doused his head in cold water.
Then he lifted his sword from the floor where it had been, next to him.
"The first thing we need to do is ask some discreet questions. I want to find out where the Seithr oil was delivered in Dras-Leona and where it was taken from there. Most likely, soldiers or workmen were involved in transporting it. We have to find those men and get one to talk."
They left the Golden Globe and searched for warehouses where the Seithr oil might have been delivered. Near the center of Dras-Leona, the streets began to slant upward toward a palace of polished granite. It was built on a rise so that it towered above every building except the cathedral.
The courtyard was a mosaic of mother-of-pearl, and parts of the walls were inlaid with gold. Black statues stood in alcoves, with sticks of incense smoking in their cold hands. Soldiers stationed every four yards watched passersby keenly.
"Who lives there?" Nari asked sharply.
"Marcus Tábor, ruler of this city. He answers only to the king and his own conscience, which hasn't been very active recently," said Brom. They walked around the palace, looking at the gated, ornate houses that surrounded it.
By midday they had learned nothing useful, so they stopped for lunch. "This city is too vast for us to comb it together," said Brom. "Still, I'm reluctant to send you off on your own. There are many in this city who would seek to take advantage of a young woman on her own."
"If they try, we would cause just as much attention fighting them off together as I would alone." Nari pointed out, daring him to challenge her abilities.
"Yes, but some men are cowardly enough that they would not attack a woman with company, even when that company is as old as I am," Brom told her sternly. Nari flushed, nodding. Brom sighed, scanning the streets. "Search on your own, then. Meet me at the Golden Globe by dusk." He glowered at Nari from under his bushy eyebrows. "I'm trusting you to keep yourself safe and your head down. Do not draw attention."
"I won't," promised Nari. Brom handed her some coins, then strode away in the opposite direction.
Nari headed to talk to the workers and shopkeepers, trying to be pleasant and charming. No one seemed to know about the oil, despite her questions, but still she left questioning the soldiers to Brom. Soldiers, she knew, were more likely to take advantage, using their power to quell any nay-sayers.
Finally, just as the sun was beginning to sink, Nari found a man who had helped to ship the seithr oil. With some charm and persuasion, she was able to get the address of the warehouse he'd taken it to.
Excited at her find, Nari headed to the warehouse, getting a look at it. She wanted to take a look inside, but the sun was dangerously low now and she didn't want another argument with Brom. Instead, she returned to the Golden Globe, flush with victory.
Brom wasn't there. In fact, it was over an hour before he came back, slumped with fatigue, his white hair plastered to his forehead. She launched herself at him, embracing him tightly, before immediately pulling back again.
"Where were you! You said we'd meet back at dusk! What happened?" Brom looked surprised at her outburst. Then his eyes took in her flushed face and, she was sure, how her fingers shook.
"I was on a trail, inside as it happens, and didn't notice the passing of time." She glared at him fiercely, turning away.
"Did you find anything then?" She demanded.
"I heard a great deal of interesting things today, not the least of which is that Galbatorix will visit Dras-Leona within the week."
"What?" She demanded, whirling around to stare at him.
Brom slouched against the wall, the lines on his forehead deepening. "It seems that Tábor has taken a few too many liberties with his power, so Galbatorix has decided to come teach him a lesson in humility. It's the first time the king has left Urû'baen in over ten years."
"Do you think he might know we're here? Could that be why he's coming personally?"
"No, no, if he did, we would already be in the Ra'zac's grasp. However, this means that whatever we're going to do about the Ra'zac must be accomplished before Galbatorix arrives. We don't want to be anywhere within twenty leagues of him. The one thing in our favor is that the Ra'zac are sure to be here, preparing for his visit."
"Are you sure we should stay even that long? I want to get them, but not if it means encountering the king. He could tear us all to pieces."
That seemed to amuse Brom. "Very good: caution. And you're right; we wouldn't stand a chance against Galbatorix. However, I don't believe we'll need to stay that long in order to catch them. Tell me what you learned today. It might confirm what I heard." Nari remembered her excitement at her discovery, but it seemed a long way away now.
"I didn't hear much until the end of the day. Then I found a man who knew where the oil was taken. It's an old warehouse, but I didn't have time to investigate further before I headed back."
"My day was a little more fruitful than yours." Brom said, not commenting on the sharpness in her tone. "I heard the same thing you did, so I went to the warehouse and talked with the workers. It didn't take much cajoling before they revealed that the cases of Seithr oil are always sent from the warehouse to the palace. After that, I went to the palace and got myself invited into the servants' quarters as a bard. For several hours I wandered about, amusing the maids and others with songs and poems—and asking questions all the while." Brom slowly filled his pipe with tobacco. "It's really amazing all the things servants find out. Aside from several fascinating tidbits, I was told, quite by accident, where the oil is taken from the palace."
"And that is . . . ?" Nari asked impatiently.
Brom puffed on his pipe and blew a smoke ring. "Out of the city, of course. Every full moon two slaves are sent to the base of Helgrind with a month's worth of provisions. Whenever the Seithr oil arrives in Dras-Leona, they send it along with the provisions. The slaves are never seen again. And the one time someone followed them, he disappeared too."
"I thought the Riders demolished the slave trade," said Nari, appalled.
"Unfortunately, it has flourished under the king's reign."
"So the Ra'zac are in Helgrind," Nari concluded, thinking of the rock mountain.
"There or somewhere nearby."
"If they are in Helgrind, they'll be either at the bottom—and protected by a thick stone door—or higher up where only their flying mounts, or Saphira, can reach. Top or bottom, their shelter will no doubt be disguised." Brom warned.
Nari thought carefully. "If Saphira and I go flying around Helgrind, the Ra'zac are sure to see us—not to mention all of Dras-Leona. That would draw the king to us as well. Perhaps we could take the place of the two slaves? The full moon isn't far off. It would give us a perfect opportunity to get close to the Ra'zac."
Brom tugged his beard thoughtfully. "That's chancy at best. If the slaves are killed from a distance, we'll be in trouble. We can't harm the Ra'zac if they aren't in sight." Nari frowned thoughtfully.
"Still, it's an intriguing idea. If it were done with Saphira hidden nearby and a . . ." Brom's voice trailed off. "It might work, but we'll have to move quickly. With the king coming, there isn't much time."
"Should we go to Helgrind and look around tomorrow? It would be good to see the land in daylight so we won't be surprised by any ambushes," Nari asked.
Brom fingered his staff. "That can be done later. I must return to the palace tomorrow and figure out how we can replace the slaves. I have to be careful not to arouse suspicion, though—I could easily be revealed by spies and courtiers who know about the Ra'zac."
Nari nodded absently, thoughts whirling as she turned away.
We found them, Saphira, she thought, disbelieving. We really found them.
Where?
Helgrind. An image of the rock mountain formed between their minds. An image of her uncle smiling at her sadly as she said goodbye followed it and she felt her teeth clench tightly.
Tell me the plan, Saphira demanded sharply. Nari related the plan they'd formed, feeling her emotions settle as she did. Keep your thoughts calm and your body alert, Saphira urged. There will be time to mourn when vengeance is had and we are safe.
When will that be? Nari wondered. Not while Galbatorix still breathes.
Soon, my heart.Saphira assured her, an ache in her for Nari's pain.
The next morning, Nari woke alone. Scrawled onto the wall with a charcoal stick was a note that read:
Nari,
I will be gone until late tonight. Coins for food are under the mattress. Explore the city, enjoy yourself, but stay unnoticed!
Brom
P.S. Avoid the palace. Don't go anywhere without your knife!
Nari wiped the wall clean, then retrieved the money from under the bed. She belted the knife to her leg, then left the room. She ambled through the streets, stopping to observe whatever interested her. There were many intriguing stores, but none quite as interesting as Angela's herb shop in Teirm. She spent quite a bit of time browsing the various bookshops, but found little that drew her attention. When she grew hungry, she bought a wedge of cheese and a loaf of bread and ate them, sitting on a curb.
Later, in a far corner of Dras-Leona, she heard an auctioneer rattling off a list of prices. Curious, she headed toward the voice and arrived at a wide opening between two buildings. Ten men stood on a waist-high platform. Arrayed before them was a richly dressed crowd that was both colorful and are the goods for sale? she wondered, looking around.
The auctioneer finished his list and motioned for a young man behind the platform to join him. The man awkwardly climbed up, chains dragging at his hands and feet.
"And here we have our first item," proclaimed the auctioneer. "A healthy male from the Hadarac Desert, captured just last month, and in excellent condition. Look at those arms and legs; he's strong as a bull! He'd be perfect as a shield bearer, or, if you don't trust him for that, hard labor. But let me tell you, lords and ladies, that would be a waste. He's bright as a nail, if you can get him to talk a civilized tongue!"
The crowd laughed, and Nari felt her jaw drop as her fists clenched. Distantly, she remembered Brom's words about slavery from the night before, but her mind refused to comprehend as she watched the man be claimed by a tall, hawk-nosed man. The next slave was a tiny girl, no more than six years old, wrenched from the arms of her crying mother. Nari felt fury well up in her, felt the magic in her veins boil. Her lips started to form a word that would free the little girl, and her arm rose. The mark on her palm began to shimmer and she wanted nothing more than to release it. With a shuddering breath, she dropped her hand and pushed the magic back, feeling tears fall from her eyes. The little girl was solid to one man, her mother to a woman, as Nari watched, gasping for breath.
There are soldiers here, and the king is coming. Brom is in the palace, vulnerable. Even if they didn't know it was her that cast the spell, the slaves would be punished instead.
Nari felt helplessness begin to drown her, and tore herself away, feeling every cry from the slaves' mouths like an arrow to her heart until the weeping was inaudible.
I'm sorry, she wept silently, wandering aimlessly. I'm sorry.
It was a while before she took stock of her bearings and was surprised to find herself before the cathedral. Its twisted spires were covered with statues and scrollwork. Snarling gargoyles crouched along the eaves. Fantastic beasts writhed on the walls, and heroes and kings marched along their bottom edges, frozen in cold marble. Ribbed arches and tall stained-glass windows lined the cathedral's sides, along with columns of differing sizes. A lonely turret helmed the building like a mast.
Recessed in shadow at the cathedral's front was an iron-bound door inlaid with a row of silver script that Nari recognized as the ancient language. As best she could tell, it read: May thee who enter here understand thine impermanence and forget thine attachments to that which is beloved.
The entire building sent a shiver down Nari's spine. There was something menacing about it, as if it were a predator crouched in the city, waiting for its next victim.
Curiosity led her to ascend the broad row of steps that led to the cathedral's. She stopped before opening the door, wondering if she was allowed to enter. Almost guiltily she pushed on the door, listening to it swing open smoothly, gliding on oiled hinges. She stepped inside, cautiously looking around.
The silence of a forgotten tomb filled the empty cathedral. The air was chill and dry. Bare walls extended to a vaulted ceiling that was so high that Nari felt no taller than an ant. Stained-glass windows depicting scenes of anger, hate, and remorse pierced the walls, while spectral beams of light washed sections of the granite pews with transparent hues, leaving the rest in shadow.
Between the windows stood statues with rigid, pale eyes. Slowly, she made her way up the center row, afraid to break the quiet.
The altar was a great slab of stone devoid of adornment. A solitary finger of light fell upon it, illuminating motes of golden dust floating in the air. Behind the altar, the pipes of a wind organ pierced the ceiling and opened themselves to the elements. The instrument would play its music only when a gale rocked Dras-Leona.
Not wanting to draw the attention of anyone who entered, Nari knelt before the altar and bowed her head. As she knelt, she thought. How many people had knelt here before, practicing this cursed religion? How many people had been punished at this altar for refusing to practice the religion? Should people be forced to practice a religion they didn't believe in, merely because the power in the area said they should? What had the Riders' stance on religion been?
When Nari felt enough time had passed, she rose and turned to leave. The sight before her made her freeze. Her heart jumped, hammering like a drum.
The Ra'zac stood at the cathedral's entrance, watching her. Their swords were drawn, keen edges bloody in a crimson light. A sibilant hiss came from the smaller Ra'zac. Neither of them moved.